WRITTEN QUESTION P-1025/02 by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council. Events in the Middle East.
Date: 2002-04-05
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: EU relations, Israel, Middle East, Palestine question, common foreign and security policy, political situation, settlement of disputes, the EU's international role

C 309 E/72

Official Journal of the European Communities

EN

12.12.2002

Afghanistan. The EU will therefore ensure a gender-sensitive approach in its activities, including in
development assistance.

3.
The Council will seek to ensure that Afghan women will be direct beneficiaries of a significant
percentage of the international reconstruction aid. The Presidency and the Commission, in their role as
the Steering Committee for the Reconstruction of Afghanistan, will contribute to the
co-chairs of
implementation of these commitments and monitor the evolution.

The Council has not discussed the European Parliament’s suggestion that the UN should appoint a

4.
female Rapporteur of gender equality in Afghanistan, but would consider it whenever it arises.

(2002/C 309 E/083)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1024/02

by Claude Moraes (PSE) to the Council

(5 April 2002)

Subject: Free movement of persons and death grants in the EU

My constituent, the mother of a British national who died while working and residing in Holland, has had
her request for a funeral payment legally rejected by a British benefits agency after her son’s body was
returned to the UK for burial, which she organised. This rejection was in spite of the fact that she receives
income support, and is valid on the grounds that the deceased had not been resident in the UK at the time
of his death.

Does the Council concede that this represents a serious anomaly with regard to the values and working
necessities of a European Union of free movement of persons?

Will the Council consider that Regulation 1408/71 (1) must be amended in order to prevent this situation
from being allowed to recur? Citizens financially unable to cover the costs of a funeral can not be left with
such a burden resulting directly from the union of Europe.

At this time, is there any compensation that Europe can provide for those affected by this shortcoming?

(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2.

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council would refer the Honourable Member to the reply it gave to questions E-0209/02 and
E-0343/02, put by Ulpu Iivari and Eija-Riitta Korhola respectively.

(2002/C 309 E/084)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-1025/02

by Emmanouil Bakopoulos (GUE/NGL) to the Council

(5 April 2002)

Subject: Events in the Middle East

The tragic events unfolding in the Middle East and their repercussions affect the vital interests of the
European Union and call for its active involvement in the search for a settlement.

What action has the Council already taken and what further steps does it plan to take to go beyond its role
of main provider of funding in the region and to propose political solutions which are so urgently needed
not only by the Middle East but by the Union itself?

12.12.2002

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 309 E/73

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council continues to be actively involved in the search for peace in the Middle East, on the basis of
the relevant UN Security Council Resolutions. Ministers discussed the issue when they met on 3 April in
Luxembourg and again in the margins of the Vth Euro-Mediterranean Conference in Valencia. The
question of the Middle East was also on the agenda for the General Affairs Council on 15 April and
subsequently on 13 May. It again appeared on the agenda for the General Affairs Council meeting on
17 June 2002. The Secretary-General/High Representative, Javier Solana, has recently again visited the
region, meeting both the President of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Arafat, and the Israeli Prime Minister,
Mr Sharon, and participated alongside the President of the Council in the Quartet meeting at ministerial
level in Washington on 2 May. The Council shares the view of the Honourable Member that a political
solution is essential to bring lasting peace and security in the region.

(2002/C 309 E/085)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-1030/02

by Michiel van Hulten (PSE) to the Council

(15 April 2002)

Subject: Appointment of senior Council officials

In 1999 and 2000, the European Commission laid down a number of guidelines for the appointment and
career development of its senior officials.

These rules include the following principles:

(cid:1) Merit must be the dominant criterion for decisions on senior appointments;

(cid:1) The career advancement of A1 and A2 officials must take due account of the results of regular

performance appraisals;

(cid:1) As a general rule, A1 and A2 officials are subject to mobility after 5 years and cannot normally stay in

a post for more than 7 years;

(cid:1) A1 posts are generally opened up to competition.

1. What rules does the Council apply to the appointment and career development of its senior officials?

How many A1 and A2 officials does the Council employ? How many are women? How many belong

2.
to ethnic minorities?

How many current A1 and A2 Council officials have been in their post for 5 years or more? How

3.
many have been in their post for 7 years or more?

How many open competitions have been held since 1999 for the replacement of A1 and A2

4.
officials?

Does the Council plan to hold open competitions for future vacancies at A1 and A2 level? If not,

5.
why not?

Reply

(30 September 2002)

The Council informs the Honourable Member that in the appointment of its senior officials the Council
applies the procedures provided for in the Staff Regulations and other relevant texts (1). All posts at the A1
and A2 levels are published internally in accordance with Article 4 of the Staff Regulations. Where
appropriate, on the basis of Article 29(2) of the Staff Regulations (2) the vacancy notices are also sent to the
other Institutions and to the Member States. The vacancy may be published in national and/or
international newspapers or professional periodicals, according to the circumstances. An Advisory